Housing and electronic device using the same

ABSTRACT

A housing for an electronic device includes a ceramic patterned light transmitting portion and a ceramic light resistant portion surrounding the light transmitting portion. A thickness of the light transmitting portion is in a range from 0.2 mm to 1 mm. A thickness of the light resistant portion is at least 0.3 mm thicker than that of the light transmitting portion.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to device housings, andespecially to a housing for an electronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

Commonly used housings for an electronic device often includesmanufacturer and identifying graphics on an outer surface thereon.However, the normally printed graphics are easily peeled off or abradedaway.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, theemphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principlesof the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like referencenumerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views.

FIG. 1 is a cross section of an embodiment of an electronic device, inwhich the electronic device includes a housing.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the housing shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the housing shown in FIG. 2, taken alongthe line III-III.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an electronic device 100 includesa main body 11, a housing 13 covering on the main body 11 and a lightsource 15 positioned in the main body 11. The housing 13 is ceramicmaterial. The housing 13 includes a ceramic light transmitting portion131 and a ceramic light resistant portion 133 surrounding the lighttransmitting portion 131. The light source 15 faces the lighttransmitting portion 131, and supplies light for the light transmittingportion 131. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic device 100 isa cell phone, and the light source 15 is a light emitting diode,although the electronic device 100 may alternatively be a music playeror a personal digital assistant.

Also referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 13 is rectangular in shape.The light transmitting portion 131 is formed in an inner surface of thehousing 13. The light transmitting portion 131 is patterned in theillustrated embodiment, and forming a decorative pattern. Alternatively,the light transmitting portion 131 may form a specific graphic designpattern. A thickness of the light transmitting portion 131 is in a rangefrom 0.2 mm to 1 mm, such that light can easily transmit therethrough,and the light transmitting portion 131 would not be easily broken. Thelight resistant portion 133 is at least 0.3 mm thicker than the lighttransmitting portion 131, thus most of the light can be blocked. Thethickness of the light transmitting portion 131 is preferably from 0.3mm to 0.6 mm. The thickness of the light resistant portion 133 is largerthan 1.4 mm, to enhance the physical strength of the housing 13. In theillustrated embodiment, the thickness of the light transmitting portion131 is 0.5 mm, and the thickness of the light resistant portion 133 is1.5 mm.

A light transmission ratio of the light transmitting portion 131 isgreater than that of the light resistant portion 133 due to thedifference in thickness, such that the pattern can be seen more clearly.Since the light transmitting portion 131 is formed in the inner surfaceof the housing 13, dust or other contaminants outside is prevented fromadhering on the light transmitting portion 131. Alternatively, the lighttransmitting portion 131 can be formed in an outer surface of thehousing 13. The pattern can be clearly seen, even after long usage.

It should be noted that the light transmitting portion 131 and the lightresistant portion 133 may be made of other ceramic material havingdifferent light transmission ratio, for example, the light transmittingportion 131 can be alumina with higher light transmission ratio, and thelight resistant portion 133 can be zirconia with lower lighttransmission ratio than alumina, to as to ensure that the pattern ishighly visible.

It should be noted that the light resistant portion 133 may bepatterned, and be surrounded by the light transmitting portion 131. Whenthe light source 15 is turned on, the pattern of the light resistantportion 133 is darker than that of the light transmitting portion 131surrounding the light resistant portion 133, but nevertheless, is stillvisible.

It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will beunderstood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent thatvarious changes may be made thereto without departing from the spiritand scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages.

1. A housing for an electronic device comprising: a ceramic lighttransmitting portion; and a ceramic light resistant portion, wherein thelight transmitting portion is patterned, the ceramic light resistantportion is surrounding the light transmitting portion, a thickness ofthe light transmitting portion being in a range from 0.2 mm to 1 mm, anda thickness of the light resistant portion being at least 0.3 mm thickerthan the thickness of the light transmitting portion.
 2. The housing ofclaim 1, wherein the thickness of the light transmitting portion is in arange from 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm.
 3. The housing of claim 1, wherein thethickness of the light resistant portion is greater than 1.4 mm.
 4. Ahousing for an electronic device comprising: a ceramic light resistantportion; and a light transmitting portion, wherein the light resistantportion is patterned, the light transmitting portion is surrounding thelight resistant portion, a thickness of the light transmitting portionbeing in a range from 0.2 mm to 1 mm, and a thickness of the lightresistant portion being at least 0.3 mm thicker than the thickness ofthe light transmitting portion.
 5. The housing of claim 4, wherein thethickness of the light transmitting portion is in a range from 0.3 mm to0.6 mm.
 6. The housing of claim 4, wherein the thickness of the lightresistant portion is greater than 1.4 mm.
 7. An electronic devicecomprising: a main body; a light source; and a housing for receiving themain body; wherein the housing comprises a ceramic light resistantportion and a light resistant portion surrounding the light transmittingportion, the light transmitting portion is patterned, a thickness of thelight transmitting portion is in a range from 0.2 mm to 1 mm, athickness of the light resistant portion is at least 0.3 mm thicker thanthe thickness of the light transmitting portion, and the light source ispositioned in the main body to supply light for the light transmittingportion.
 8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the light sourcefaces the light transmitting portion.
 9. The electronic device of claim7, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.
 10. Theelectronic device of claim 7, wherein the light transmitting portion isformed in an inner surface of the housing.
 11. The electronic device ofclaim 7, wherein the thickness of the light transmitting portion is in arange from 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm.
 12. The electronic device of claim 7,wherein the thickness of the light resistant portion is greater than 1.4mm.